A newly-passed labor bill has eliminated seven statutory holidays in 2017, but private sector workers will still receive seven holidays that span at least three days, according to a calendar released by the Executive Yuan's Directorate-General of Personnel Administration (人事行政總處).

A historic telephone call between President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump last Friday was made possible by Trump's key aides, Foreign Minister David Lee (李大維) said Thursday, denying a report that former U.S. senator Bob Dole and a consultancy affiliated with the senior Republican had been involved.

Cooler weather is expected in Taiwan from Dec. 14 under the effects of seasonal northeasterly winds, with northern Taiwan likely to see lows of 15 degrees Celsius, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Thursday.